The Embassy of the Republic of Korea donated 35,000 face masks and 1.2 tons of disinfectant (R 650,000) to the Ministry of Health
The South Korean Government’s Donation of Detection Test Kits and Face Masks to assist South Africa in its fight against Covid-19 is awaiting its official handover
- Minister Counsellor Bong-kyu Choi from the Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Pretoria, South Africa delivered 35,000 face masks and 1.2 tons of disinfectant (equivalent to R 650,000) to Ms Lebo Lebese at the South African Department of Health on Wednesday, 29 July 2020 to help local medical staff, soldiers and police officers to work more safely. Meanwhile, 5,000 face masks were delivered directly from the Korean Embassy to South African Korean War Veterans and their families.
- The donation was prepared by the South Korean government and companies to support the South African government’s fight against Covid-19.
o The face masks were prepared by the South Korean Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs in order to fulfill South Korean President Moon Jae-in’s promise made during a telephone conversation he had with President Cyril Ramaphosa on 24 April in support of countries that participated in the Korean War on the South Korean side.
o G.SOL, the antivirus disinfectant, was donated by Korean companies in South Africa such as GP&E (CEO: Cho Il-hoon), which also donated one ton of G.SOL to Ethiopia and Indonesia respectively, POLARIS SHIPPING, NEXEN, KEPCO, KEPCO KPS, KSURE, KOTRA, etc.
o G.SOL, produced by GP&E, is a long-lasting surface disinfectant that lasts for 3-6 months, unlike other alcohol-based disinfectants that lose their sterilization power by being volatile. G.SOL destroys 99.9% of various viruses, such as MERS and SARS Coronavirus and Swine Influenza virus, as well as Corona19 (Covid-19). G.SOL has proven its effectiveness in a test performed by an internationally accredited testing and certification body recognized by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) of eliminating more than 99.99% of the influenza virus and MERS coronavirus (MERS-CoV)).
- Furthermore, the Government of the Republic of Korea has arranged the donation of 17,000 detection test kits and 50,000 face masks (with a total value of approximately US$300,000) and is waiting for an official handover to the Government of the Republic of South Africa in due course. Meanwhile Samsung Electronics Co. of South Korea donated 10,000 diagnostic kits to the South African Medical Research Council on 18 July in celebration of Nelson Mandela Day.
